Spode was founded in 1770 by Josiah Spode, and its origins lie in a pottery factory established in Stoke-on-Trent, a town known for its ceramics. In 1784, the first Josiah Spode developed an underglaze transfer printing technique using copperplate engraving. In 1847, W. T. Copeland officially became the owner, and in 1867, W. T. Copeland's four sons took over. It is currently one of the brands owned by Royal Worcester Spode. This is from the series called Mayflower, and the backstamp bears both Copeland and Spode. Production began in 1929 and has been reissued twice since then, but this is an early piece, an antique that will soon be 100 years old. The lilac-colored floral pattern, developed by the first Josiah Spode using copperplate transfer, is elegant, as are the wavy design around the rim and the elaborate handle. The red flower pattern in the center, the orange pistils, and the green leaves are meticulously hand-painted, adding elegant accents and depth to the purple. Copperplate transfer is mostly monochrome, so multi-colored designs are rare and I believe this is a piece you won't easily find in Japan. How about taking this opportunity? Although the production is old, it is in a lustrous and beautiful condition. Scuff marks from storage are visible only when held up to the light (plate photo 10, saucer photo 14). There are no crazing on the front (photo 9) or back (photo 11) of the plate, nor on the inside of the cup (photo 16) or saucer. We hope you will appreciate these characteristics of old production. Additionally, there are other age-related characteristics such as black spots from manufacturing, color variations, ink transfer, paint loss, air bubbles, and kiln marks. We kindly ask that only those who understand antiques and vintage items consider purchasing. Those who seek perfection in quality or are overly sensitive should refrain from purchasing. This is a rare item that exists only in its current form. We kindly ask that you refrain from price negotiations except for combined shipping discounts. We will not respond to price offers. Thank you for your understanding. *Cup Diameter 9.5cm Height 5.5cm *Saucer Diameter 15.3cm Height 2.5cm *Plate Diameter 20cm Height 2.5cm